June 7 정유빈(yubinjeong)

 1.Summary

In today's class, as in the previous class, the important point was peace. He showed a video of an academic who talked about peace. It was a video of Stephen Pinker. Pinker makes an argument through vast historical data and statistical analysis that today's society has much less violence than in the past. Pinker suggests various factors to explain the reduction in violence. First, he argues that the violence of war, crime, torture, and the death penalty has decreased significantly in the modern and modern times compared to the ancient society and the Middle Ages. To prove this, it analyzes archaeological evidence and literature data, showing that the cruel customs of the past have disappeared over time. Second, Pinker cites the progress of civilization as an important factor. The development of a centralized state and the strengthening of law enforcement have contributed to reducing violence between individuals. He explains that the settlement of norms and laws in the process of civilization has resulted in strengthening social order and reducing violent conflicts between individuals. Third, the influence of the human rights movement has also played an important role in reducing violence. Various human rights movements, such as expanding women's rights, advancing racial equality, and protecting the rights of LGBTQ people, have contributed to reducing violent practices, thereby expanding social equality and justice. Fourth, the spread of economic prosperity and education have also positively affected the reduction of violence. The improvement of economic stability and living standards has reduced the need for people to rely on violence to survive, and moral awareness and social norms have spread through education. Pinker emphasizes that economic and intellectual development has played an important role in improving individual lives and reducing dependence on violence. Finally, he explains that international cooperation and the formation of norms have contributed to reducing violence on a large scale, such as war. Diplomatic cooperation and international norms between countries provide non-violent ways to resolve conflicts, and have contributed to reducing the frequency of wars. Pinker argues that violence has historically decreased due to the combination of these various factors, and he says this progress is a hopeful sign for a positive future for humanity. His analysis sheds new light on the history of violence and emphasizes that humanity is moving toward a more peaceful society.

2.interesting

What I find interesting in class is that the rate of newborns being born in Korea is rapidly decreasing. Why? According to a report by Statistics Korea, the total fertility rate in Korea in 2023 fell below 0.7. The total fertility rate refers to the average number of children a woman is expected to give birth to in her lifetime, which is much lower than the 2.1 children required to maintain the population. The main factors behind the decline in the fertility rate are economic burdens, social changes, difficulties in balancing childcare and work, and social pressure. First of all, the high cost of raising children is acting as an important factor in the reduction of the fertility rate. Rising housing costs and the burden of education costs are making it difficult to raise children, and the increase in the number of double-income couples is making it more difficult to give birth to children. In particular, rising housing prices and high childcare costs are causing many couples to avoid giving birth.
Social changes also play an important role. As the values of marriage and childbirth change, the choice of non-marriage and non-marriage is increasing. As the marriage age is delayed and the proportion of people who do not marry at all increases, the age of childbirth is also being delayed, and some are showing a tendency to give up childbirth itself. These changes lead to a variety of lifestyles that deviate from traditional family forms. The difficulty of childcare and work compatibility is also one of the important reasons for the decrease in the birth rate. The limitations of parental leave in the workplace and the lack of social infrastructure to support work-family balance act as factors that make women avoid childbirth. In particular, the reality that it is difficult for women to raise children and manage their careers at the same time is leading to avoidance of childbirth. There are many women who are aware of the lack of social support and are concerned about career break after childbirth, increasing the burden of giving birth to children.

3.discussion

What I want to discuss with our classmates and professors is how can we be kinder and love each other? Love and consideration start with understanding and respect. It is necessary to recognize and accept each other's differences and diversity. Since we are beings from different backgrounds and experiences, it is important to try to understand each other's positions and emotions. Empathy comes from the active mind to acknowledge the other person's feelings and to understand their situation. To do this, listening to others seriously and respecting their feelings and thoughts make their relationships deeper and more meaningful.
Also, small consideration and kindness make great love. Sharing the other person's joy and sadness and paying a small amount of attention in everyday life are important ways to express love. You need to consider the other person's position and try to understand their needs even when things are trivial. This should be seen not only in words but also in actions, and it is important to show gratitude and support to the other person. Love should be expressed often. The loving heart exerts more power when expressed consciously. There are many ways to express affection to close people such as family, friends, and lovers. It is a good way to say words of praise and encouragement often, spend time together, and share pleasant experiences. Also, you can coordinate and understand each other's feelings through positive conversations even in conflict situations. Efforts to find common values while acknowledging each other's differences make the relationship stronger. It is also important to love yourself. People who love and respect yourself tend to show the same attitude to others. Taking good care of yourself and meeting your needs are essential to maintaining a healthy relationship. Having a positive attitude toward oneself and understanding and respecting one's feelings and desires are the foundation for loving and caring for one another. Lastly, practicing love and consideration at the social level is necessary. Acting with a sense of community and social responsibility plays an important role in expanding love. Relationships with neighbors, activities to help the socially disadvantaged, and actions that consider the public interest all expand the way we love and care for each other. Furthermore, we can reduce conflicts and divisions, and build a better society through mutual understanding and cooperation. It takes such efforts for us to love and care for each other. When understanding and empathy, small consideration and kindness, expression of love, self-respect, and social responsibility are all combined, we can build better relationships and a better society. What is important in this process is continuous practice and effort. Love and consideration are more than just emotions, and when we make conscious efforts, we can discover their true value.